Knitting Dragonflies

Your weak points are your strengths run amok . This is especially true for acrylic yarns. But it goes both ways. Good or Bad?  You decide…. Indestructible = Still in use after 30 years, ah the memories, and now we can resale them as vintage Wide range of colors = Not always good color choices, or remember what we thought looked good together, arugh…. Scratchy and cheap = great dish scrubbies, and car window bug scrubbers Machine wash and dry = Hey, spill on it, abuse it, like Mike Tyson says it’s asking for it Non-allergenic = no animal fibers, unless you get a wool blend Can be blended with any natural fiber = results in the best of both worlds I was recently at a family members house and saw an afghan that I had crocheted when I was in collage. (yes it was till surviving, although in rather a sad pilly form). I learned to crochet in grade school, but didn’t start making afghans until I was in high school. My first was a country blue one, in a ripple stitch. I ha

I've been wondering if someone has this pattern! When Lindsey won the gold, we were all excited. As knitters we were glued to the screen, looking at her hat! Sorry pattern is not longer available due to Olympic committee see link if you want more info http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-22/why-the-u-dot-s-dot-olympic-committee-cracked-down-on-a-knitting-group http://picasaweb.google.com/belgianwaffle/Waffleknits#slideshow/5440351034956179602 Thanks to belgianwaffleknit at My Waffle House blog we can now knit that cute hat worn by Lindsey Vonn! Ravelry link here Check out her blog Now go knit your hat, even if you don’t ski! Technorati Tags: Lindsey Vonn ski hat pattern link , olympic 2010 Lindsey vonn hat pattern , olympic 2010 knitted ski hat pattern

2010 Olympic Light Display- Vancouer , originally uploaded by RhondaVancouver . 2010 Olympic Light Display- Vancouer I'm sitting here knitting on my olympic reindeer/moose hat pattern by by Helena Bristow , see ravelry for free download! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/olympic-reindeer-hat Enjoy the games, and get your knitting out!

TiLt Creations is a creative gal with 2 Etsy shops and check out her blogs, here and here . She is a stay at home mom of a 14 and 4 year old boy. She sews and creates whenever possible. Her creations are all made by hand. Please take your time and browse around. Visit her Tilt Too shop here on etsy for some supply destash. Of course, knitter that I am, my theory is you can’t have too many bags. I really like her bags of all sizes, whether you knit or just need a bag to carry back and forth to work she has a large variety at reasonable prices. My favorites include: Wristlet Pouch in Patchy Print $25.00 usd I think this would be good to store my knitting necessities, it is small enough to carry with me, so I don’t get stuck at work, crafting a paper clip into a yarn sewing needle. (which does work in an emergency) Wristlet with Bracelet in Olive Mock Reptile $20.00 usd A bangle wristlet, good for holding just what you need to dash out somewhere, dressy enough to

Here are some free face patterns from fabulous knitters. Woman Knitting by Martin Driscoll Aeolian Shawl pattern from Knitty From Subversive Knitting, her pattern Aunt Phebe’s Comfort Shawl I like the Column of Leaves lace scarf pattern from Brooke, see her on Ravelry Sticks and Circuits has this beautiful Raindrop Shawl At Elann.com by Shui Kuen Kozinski this Lacewing Shawl, elegant. From Knitty the Laminaria shawl by Elizabeth Freeman All beautiful Enjoy some lace knitting while we wait for spring Technorati Tags: free knitted lace shawl pattern links , knit , knitting , lace knitting

From this….. If you could take some time off, now, and go anywhere, where would that be? I think this time of year Jan-Feb is when I want to escape and find some warm sunny spot to enjoy. We have moderate winter temps (in the 30-40’s most of the time). Which is nice, but also means rain, clouds and mud. Rare are the days that we see sun, and then sometimes just 15 min or so. I am seriously thinking about investing in a light therapy box. (on a side note, anyone have one of these? recommendations? thoughts?) If we could take off, I would plan a trip, just long enough, 10 days to really unwind. We love to camp and connect with the outdoors, so I think camping. Location?  Believe it or not, we are on a  Somewhere sunny and warmer, hummmm….. Got it! Big Sur, California ! Their winter camping is  one of Big Surs' best kept secrets. The weather is perfect for hiking, not too hot or cold. I love brisk nights. California Condors are flying overhead throughout Big Sur. Humpback a

I don’t know maybe it is just me, but there just wasn’t enough knitwear in the opening ceremonies to satisfy me! Of course we are in the middle of a blizzard with high winds. I’m bundled up on the sofa with my DH watching the nations enter with their flags was beautiful. Yes, the outfits were great, nice colors, and patterns. I saw a few sweaters, mostly hats and mittens, But I wanted to see some serious knitwear, that looked “real” (hand knit), and soft, like I wanted to touch it and bury my face in the warmth of it. I didn’t see enough, but here are my favorites. When I think of the opening ceremony for the winter Olympics  I want to see some serious sweaters! Something like Dale of Norway . Here is the link for the Norwegian delegation sweater pattern. Of course they know how to make great sweaters. Check out some Ravelry knitters results here , here ,and here for your sweater fix.(oops more , and more ) Now that we all agree that Dale of Norway knows how to do inspirational

I had to work on Valentines day, but my husband cooked up some great cobbler! I thought I would share his recipe and send some berry good love to you! Berry Good Cobbler 2 cups fresh blueberries 1 cup fresh blackberries 1 cup fresh raspberries 1 t vanilla 1/2 lemon juiced 1 cup natural sugar 4 T flour 1 T butter 1 3/4 cup white flour + 1/4 whole wheat flour 4 t baking powder 6 T sugar 5 T butter (yes the real thing) 1 1/4 cup milk 2 T sugar several pinches cinnamon Grease an 8 inch square baking dish. Place the berries into the dish and mix with vanilla and lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1 cup of sugar and 4 T flour, toss very lightly. Stir in the T of melted butter. Set aside. In a bowl, stir together the white and whole wheat flour, baking powder, and 6 T sugar. Cut in the 5 T of butter using a fork. Make a well in the center and quickly stir in the milk. Mix until just moistened, The batter should be very thick, like a wet dough. Let this rest fo

E. Z. heart , originally uploaded by staceyjoy . Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots Now go hug someone!

During the grey rainy days of winter here. I have found one of the best activities that chases the blues away is spinning. With not much energy to think about a big project, spinning is a mindless, and rewarding activity. Here is my girlfriend spinning, this is her first try on a wheel. She is a master at the spindle. So it was no surprise that in one day she spun about 4 oz of a mixed batt up. Spinning with her hat made of spindle spun. Before After This came out beautiful!! I’m working on spinning some persimmon roving from Paradise Fibers. I actually got a lace shawl out of the corner of my closet and started on it again. Get your knitting needles out and get going. Technorati Tags: spinning , spin , spinning wheel